i've always made the ocean a huge part of my life, and to me, the ultimate thing for someone as free spirited as myself is to travel and live via sailboat!
irishsurf at hotmail dot com

Absolutely Jess! There is a an awesome world to be discovered and experienced and I reckon there is no better way than by Sailboat

You sound pretty easy going, and a bit of fun. Music is definitely always welcome on a boat, there is nothing better than sundowner's and goodtimes around a guitar with good company. I do have to say this - Please beware unscrupolous skipper's with perhaps alternative agendas.

You seem to have a good plan, learn a bit locally, and as someone has already said hit the sail clubs for opportunities to get out there and learn the craft of sailing.

If you ever get to my part of world (Australia) let me know, and I will show you some of the secret and amazing local breaks!

Even small marinas sometimes have groups, sailing
associations etc that get out and race around the
bouy on weekends, and sometimes need crew.
You can learn from each other in this type of
enviornment. Hang around the marinas a little bit
and meet a few people. Find out when they have
their get togethers, which can be pretty casual.
As for myself, I agree about the pets. A cruising
couple on a long cruise, might have a pet or two.
Someone looking to be crew, I don't think so.
Also don't expect to get paid to be crew, and
expect to pay your own way for your food and
any extras. Unless you have an actual position on
a large yacht, cruise ship etc, or until you have
as much or more experience than the people who
are taking you on, you pay your own way.
(You might find a generous captain who will take
you on for free, but this is not always the case)

Sorry to be negative but your biggest issue is going to be your cat. I don't know anybody that will be amenable to someone else's pet on board. And I know how hard it is to leave a loved pet behind. We have an Abyssinian who will go sailing with us when we go, no matter how much trouble he's going to be.

ok ms. williams, your on. Clearwater to NOLA and thereabouts, you just have to cover your food (in case daily canned spinach, spam and grapefruit juice every day isn't to your liking), and the cat's fare. expect 6 days, ready first part of August.

I'm still interested in any trips I can take after September. I actually do have a little bit of experience now after spending 2 weeks on a wooden sailboat from the 1930's. I can't go without the cat though!!!

Just returned to Clearwater hours ago, just having the best diesel mechanic I can find look over my engine. Come by clearwater marina, soon as the engine gets a once (maybe twice) over and food restock we're ready, can have you sailing the gulf within days, New orleans in a week, and can talk about you staying or greyhounding back. If not, if you know anyone that would enjoy sailing send them over to clearwater municiple marina (someone who wouldn't go overboard) smarter the better and a great sense of balance, Shane Bruce.

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